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GHSA-5882-5RX9-XGXP

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-01-16 20:59 – Updated: 2026-06-05 16:23
VLAI
Summary
Crawl4AI is Vulnerable to Remote Code Execution in Docker API via Hooks Parameter
Details

A critical remote code execution vulnerability exists in the Crawl4AI Docker API deployment. The /crawl endpoint accepts a hooks parameter containing Python code that is executed using exec(). The __import__ builtin was included in the allowed builtins, allowing attackers to import arbitrary modules and execute system commands.

Attack Vector:

POST /crawl
{
  "urls": ["https://example.com"],
  "hooks": {
    "code": {
      "on_page_context_created": "async def hook(page, context, **kwargs):\n    __import__('os').system('malicious_command')\n    return page"
    }
  }
}

Impact

An unauthenticated attacker can: - Execute arbitrary system commands - Read/write files on the server - Exfiltrate sensitive data (environment variables, API keys) - Pivot to internal network services - Completely compromise the server

Mitigation

  1. Upgrade to v0.8.0 (recommended)
  2. If unable to upgrade immediately:
  3. Disable the Docker API
  4. Block /crawl endpoint at network level
  5. Add authentication to the API

Fix Details

  1. Removed __import__ from allowed_builtins in hook_manager.py
  2. Hooks disabled by default (CRAWL4AI_HOOKS_ENABLED=false)
  3. Users must explicitly opt-in to enable hooks

Credits

Discovered by Neo by ProjectDiscovery (https://projectdiscovery.io)

Severity
10.0 (Critical)
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H
Show details on source website
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{
  "affected": [
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "PyPI",
        "name": "Crawl4AI"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "0"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "0.8.0"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2026-26216"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-94"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": true,
    "github_reviewed_at": "2026-01-16T20:59:16Z",
    "nvd_published_at": "2026-02-12T16:16:17Z",
    "severity": "CRITICAL"
  },
  "details": "A critical remote code execution vulnerability exists in the Crawl4AI Docker API deployment. The `/crawl` endpoint accepts a `hooks` parameter containing Python code that is executed using `exec()`. The `__import__` builtin was included in the allowed builtins, allowing attackers to import arbitrary modules and execute system commands.\n\n**Attack Vector:**\n```json\nPOST /crawl\n{\n  \"urls\": [\"https://example.com\"],\n  \"hooks\": {\n    \"code\": {\n      \"on_page_context_created\": \"async def hook(page, context, **kwargs):\\n    __import__(\u0027os\u0027).system(\u0027malicious_command\u0027)\\n    return page\"\n    }\n  }\n}\n```\n\n### Impact\n\nAn unauthenticated attacker can:\n- Execute arbitrary system commands\n- Read/write files on the server\n- Exfiltrate sensitive data (environment variables, API keys)\n- Pivot to internal network services\n- Completely compromise the server\n\n### Mitigation\n\n1. **Upgrade to v0.8.0** (recommended)\n2. If unable to upgrade immediately:\n   - Disable the Docker API\n   - Block `/crawl` endpoint at network level\n   - Add authentication to the API\n\n### Fix Details\n\n1. Removed `__import__` from `allowed_builtins` in `hook_manager.py`\n2. Hooks disabled by default (`CRAWL4AI_HOOKS_ENABLED=false`)\n3. Users must explicitly opt-in to enable hooks\n\n### Credits\n\nDiscovered by Neo by ProjectDiscovery (https://projectdiscovery.io)",
  "id": "GHSA-5882-5rx9-xgxp",
  "modified": "2026-06-05T16:23:37Z",
  "published": "2026-01-16T20:59:16Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/unclecode/crawl4ai/security/advisories/GHSA-5882-5rx9-xgxp"
    },
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-26216"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/crawl4ai/PYSEC-2026-33.yaml"
    },
    {
      "type": "PACKAGE",
      "url": "https://github.com/unclecode/crawl4ai"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/unclecode/crawl4ai/blob/main/docs/blog/release-v0.8.0.md"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/unclecode/crawl4ai/blob/release/v0.8.0/docs/blog/release-v0.8.0.md"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/unclecode/crawl4ai/blob/release/v0.8.0/docs/migration/v0.8.0-upgrade-guide.md"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/crawl4ai-docker-api-unauthenticated-remote-code-execution-via-hooks-parameter"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H",
      "type": "CVSS_V4"
    }
  ],
  "summary": "Crawl4AI is Vulnerable to Remote Code Execution in Docker API via Hooks Parameter"
}



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